Haunted houses, ghosts, costumes and trick or treating: Why some towns ban Halloween for teens

Halloween is one of the world’s oldest celebrations, its roots dating back thousands of years to the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain. It has evolved since then - particularly during the last 20-30 years, becoming much more commercialized. Halloween, which once heralded the start of winter and a time to commemorate the dead, is big business in today’s capitalist world.

Sweet freedom

Trick or Treat is a tradition which children have taken part in for centuries although the phrase was first used in the 1920s in Canada to describe the ritual of children, dressed in Halloween costume, knocking on neighbors’ doors then reciting rhymes in return for “a reward” - usually sweets, fruit or coins.

But not everyone wants cold callers turning up on their doorstep unannounced; and many people don’t have any sweets to dish out or want to give kids money. So, while some see Trick or Treat as a bit of harmless fun, others think it’s wrong to encourage children to go knocking door-to-door expecting something from people they don’t know.

Age limits and curfews

Some US towns have even banned trick-or-treating, while others have imposed an age limit. Chesapeake in Virginia introduced an age limit for trick-or-treaters in 1970, setting the cut off age at 12 years old and establishing a curfew, with the practice limited from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The limit was raised for kids up to age 14 in 2019. Any trick-or-treaters found to be flouting the rules could be handed a six-month jail sentence... fortunately that has never happened.

Pennsauken in Camden County took a similar approach in 2017, with the city council telling residents: “Trick or treating is for kids, not adults. Anyone over the age of 14 cannot go out trick or treating, unless you’re acting as a chaperone. And unfortunately, chaperones can’t ask for any candy or treats. They have to wait until they get home to help their kids ‘sort’ the candy.”

It’s a similar story in Upper Deerfield Township in Cumberland County where only kids up to age 12 can trick-or-treat, and during determined times: from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 31.

Most places now have a curfew to prevent kids being out too late. For example, Wall Township in New Jersey prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from being outside between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. from October 29 through November 1, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents of kids found to be violating the law could be slapped with a $1,000 fine and up to 30 days community service.

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